Why are residents leaving Hawaii?
It’s too expensive. That’s why most people move away from their beloved Hawaii. Consider the story of Christopher Peralta, who left Honolulu in 2009 and now lives in Portland. He told the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii: “I was working three jobs and had nothing to show...
Honolulu rail funding bill would break a promise
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii submitted testimony today (Oct. 30, 2018) to the Honolulu City Council Committee on Legislative Matters regarding Bill 42, relating to funding for Honolulu County’s rail project. The comments were submitted Joe Kent, Grassroot...
Hawaii ranked 2nd least-free state in U.S.
Its lack of personal and economic freedom has many residents heading for greener pastures HONOLULU, Aug. 22, 2018 >> Hawaii had the undesirable distinction of ranking 49th among all 50 U.S. states in terms of personal and economic freedom, in a new national...
New study ranks Hawaii economy poorly but offers guide to ‘course correction’
HONOLULU (April 17, 2018) >> A new study examining practices for economic growth ranks Hawaii a low 45th among U.S. states, but also offers lessons for how the Aloha State could improve. The study, “Rich States, Poor States,” released Tuesday by the...
Low unemployment masks Hawaii’s unhealthy economy
HONOLULU >> Hawaii might have the lowest jobless rate in the nation, at 2.1 percent, but that is only hiding an unhealthy state economy, says Keli‘i Akina, president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. “Low unemployment does not mean Hawaii’s economy...
Aaron Lief is a writer and researcher for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.